Lauded coloratura soprano Jo is trying a new way to trill audiences

Published
10:00 pm PDT, Thursday, May 25, 2006

South Korean coloratura soprano Sumi Jo is not yet well known in the Pacific Northwest, but she is an adored star in her own country and has performed to frequent rave reviews around the world since her opera debut in Italy in 1986. She has won a slew of prizes, a Grammy (for "Die Frau ohne Schatten" with Sir Georg Solti), made 48 recordings and was picked by UNESCO in 2003 as an Artist for Peace.

She will make an appearance Saturday night at Benaroya Hall, giving a recital of opera arias, some lighter fare and Korean songs. "I'm excited to come to Seattle, I'm really looking forward to singing there," she says by telephone from South Korea. "I hear you have an incredible concert hall."

Her "Beautiful Challenge" tour in South Korea, Europe and North America celebrates the 20th anniversary of her opera debut.

"In 20 years, I've done a lot of things, but I wanted to try different styles of singing," Jo says, "not just bel canto and Mozart, but crossovers to musicals and movies. Some people aren't so happy about it, but I have the right to try something different. So I challenge myself not only musically but in every way, doing things no one would imagine I would."

As a UNESCO Artist for Peace, "I'm one of several artists doing this," she says of her travels, teaching and giving charity concerts. "It's a great honor. Music can make miracles." This is not her first connection with the United Nations. She has donated money to UNICEF to build schools for African children.

"For 20 years, I maybe concentrated on my career. Now, I enjoy thinking of the public, make money and do something concrete with it; concentrate more on doing good."

Performing with Jo will be veteran Italian collaborative pianist Vincenzo Scalera, the "very best pianist, a genius person," she says. "He makes my music more precious."